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Crime

The Big Sleep

3.6(49)
Language
English
Available nowFree shipping
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About the book

One of the most acclaimed works of crime fiction ever written, The Big Sleep is the first novel featuring Raymond Chandler’s iconic creation Philip Marlowe, hailed as the “quintessential urban private eye” (Los Angeles Times).

One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years

“Chandler seems to have created the culminating American hero: wised up, hopeful, thoughtful, adventurous, sentimental, cynical and rebellious.” —Robert B. Parker, The New York Times Book Review

When old man Sternwood, a dying millionaire, hires Philip Marlowe to expose the blackmailer of one of his troublesome daughters, Marlowe finds himself involved with more than simple extortion. Kidnapping, pornography, and seduction are just a few of the complications standing in the way of completing the task at hand. And just as Marlowe feels he’s getting ahold of the situation, he discovers the first body.

Editions (12)

ISBN9780394758282
PublisherRandom House LLC US
Publication Date07/12/88
Pages240

Reviews & Ratings

49 ratings

3 reviews

3.6

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  • katinkaminka
    katinkaminka

    96 Followers

    2.0

    Well, this wasn't great. Unexpectedly disappointing

    Yeah, it's a classic, I get it. But for me, apart from that, there's really no other reason to read it. Yes, it was written in 1939 and you can tell. Women are either slapped in the face or kissed whenever considered necessary. That's definitely not my type of book. And to boiling it down just to that may be unfair, but i also just found it boring. The story is complicated and not very gripping. Yeah, the writing style is fun. The first couple of pages, I was really intrigued. But that feeling soon ended and couldn't really carry me through the whole story. Even though really short of a book, it felt like ages to finish. Would recommend to people who think "everything was better in the olden days" when the roles of men and women were still the ones of strong provider and weak maiden waiting to be saved.

    Sep 28, 2025

  • berni
    berni

    87 Followers

    4.5

    Wenn jeder Krimi wie die von Chandler wären, dann würde ich viel mehr lesen. Er hat eine Art filmische Erzählen mit erfunden, wovon heute viele US-Autoren zehren. Die Story ist vielleicht etwas arg verschlungen, als in späteren; aber das schmälert den Joy an der Sache nur geringfügig.

    Jan 5, 2025

  • astroeva
    astroeva

    116 Followers

    4.0

    Ein Klassiker der Detektivromane genannt: Krimi

    Also ich habe es unaufmerksam gelesen, die Spannung kommt erst später. Um was geht es, um Erpressung oder? Ein alter behinderter reicher Mann sorgt sich um seine Töchter. Detektiv Marlowe verspricht ihm Aufklärung. Das ist damals noch der männliche Blick auf Frauen und eine benimmt sich auch sehr kindlich sexy Teenager halt etwas machohafte Darstellung muss die Leserin vertragen können und es waren halt andere Zeiten, man kann hier gut studieren, was sich geändert hat. Die Vergangenheit kann man nicht ändern. Ja zum Schluss wird es spannend. Verfilmt mit Humphrey Bogart und Laureen Bacall.

    Jun 26, 2025

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